Collapsible revolving door.



G. A. K. SUTTON.

GOLLAPSIBLE REVOLVING DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 190s. RENEWED JUNE 23, 1913'.

1,069,739. I Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1908. RENEWED JUNE 23, 1913.

1,069,739. Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

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wmvm= "0mm G. A. K. SUTTON.

COLLAPSIBLE REVOLVING DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1908. RENEWED JUNE 23, 1913.

1,069,739. Patented Aug". 12, 1913.

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GEORGE A. K. SUTTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y;

COLLAPSBLE REVOLVING- DOOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed June 11, 1908, Serial No. 37,933. Renewed.- June 23, 1918. Serial No. 775,418.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. K. SU'rroN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1925 Seventh avenue, New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Revolving Doors, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The present invention relates to that class of revolving doors having wings attached to a central spindle and jointed thereto so that they may be collapsed or swung to one side of the spindle when it is necessary to afford free egress through the door-casing in times of panic.

In the present invention, the wings are enabled to swing into the necessary collapsed position by connecting them to the center spindle by so-called double acting hinges which operate to hold the wings normally in a radial position, but permit of swinging them backward or forward from such position. Such double-acting hin es are formed with three leaves connected iy two pivotcylinders, the inner leaf being attached to a peripheral seat upon the door spindle at right angles to a radial line and furnished with one of the pivot-cylinders, the second leaf connecting the .first pivot-cylinder to the second pivot-cylinder, and the third leaf connecting the secondpivot-cyli-nder to the inner edge of the door-wing. The inner leaf holds the first Pivot-cylinder at one edge of the seat upon the door-spindle, and when the door-wing is turned upon such pivot-cylinder the inner edge of the door moves outwardly, and at first in a radial line from the surface of the peripheral seat. Such doubleacting spring-hinges permit the door-wing to swing in both directions, and the invention in the present case consists in combining such hinges with the door-spindle in a peculiar manner to permit the wings to be turned all upon the same side of the spindle when a clear passage through the door-casing is desired.

This invention is ap licabl-e' to revolvingdoors having three, fdur or more wings, special arrangement of the hinges being required with each. number of Wings m a single door.

Where the wings are connected to the spindle by double-acting spring hinges, it will be seen that the hinges are enab ed to perform a double function, as they not only serve to normally hold the wings in a radial position relative to the door-spindle, but one wing may by fastening the spindle with such wing transverse to the casing, be used as a swingdoor, thus permitting movement through the casing in either direction at one side of the spindle.

Where four or more wings are used, it is found necessary to furnish a stop for each wing to prevent its turning beyond a definite point in the collapsing movement, such stop being commonly formed as a disk attached to the spindle with the inner edge of the door-wing notched to embrace the disk, and theinner end of the notch operating to engage the edge of the disk and stop the doorwing from further movement in relation to the spindle, when the proper limit of movement is reached. Any further pressure upon the wing then operates to turn the spindle and the disk, to bring such wing into a suitable collapsing relation with the other wings.

Only the edge of the disk performs any function and a plain fiat disk is therefore employed.

The seats upon the spindle are disposed peripherally, that is, at right angles to a radial line, so as to receive the inner leaves of the hinges, and the spindle itself may be made large enough to have such peripheral seats formed directly upon its surface or it may be provided with hanger-castings having suitable seats upon which such double-acting hinges are fastened. By makin such hanger-castings to turn upon the spindle, they may be adjusted in different relations to one another, when the structure is used as a revolving door or one of the wings is set transverse to the casing for use as a swing-door.

The wings may be held in a normally radial position by springs bearing upon the wings and seats, or by so-called cables connecting the adjacent sides of the wings and formed with a breakable or yielding joint adapted'to yield and permit the collapsin of the Wings when sufficient pressure is app ied to operate the wings.

When three-leaf spring-hinges are used, the springs in the pivot-cylinders operate at one end upon the wing and at the other end upon the peripheral seat to which the inner leaf of the hinge is attached.

The invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawing, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of the doorcasing with an elevation of a four-winged door provided with the improvements; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the casing and plan of the door-wings and spindle; Fig. 3 is a plan of a spindle with four'wings nearly collapsed; Fig. 4:- is a plan of the spindle with four wings whollyrcollapsed to oneside of the spindle; Fig.5 is a plan of a spindle with three wings, with dotted lines showing two wings opposed; Fig. 6 is a sec tion of the casing with an elevation ofjhe'.

three-winged door, with two wings 'adjiisted to serve as double swing-doors; Fig. 7 is an elevation of one of the hanger-bars; Fig. 8 is an elevation upon a larger scale of the hinge-joints and disks shown in the lower part of Fig. 1; and Fig. 9 is an elevation of the corresponding part of the spindle and gne of the wing-castings notched to fit the isk.

a designates the segmental door-casing, b the central door-spindle, c the series of wings, and d are peripheral seats upon the spindle to which the inner leaves 6 of the hinge-pivot-cylinders f are attached. Aleaf e connects the pivot-cylinder f with a.cylinder f and a leaf 6 connects the latter cylinder with the inner edge of the doorwing; The seat cl may be 'formed upon a wooden body 01, as shown in all the figures except Figs. 6. and 7, and extended-the whole length of the spindle a; and such woo-den bodyis shown with four peripheral sides adapted to receive the hinge-leaves of four wings, each seat having the longitudinal groove g and each wing having a tongue g to'fit the same, to form a light-proof joint when the wings are set radially.

Where double-acting hinges are formed with springs in their pivot-cylinders, the springs operate to press the three leavesnormally together and thereby hold the wings at right angles to the peripheral seats upon the spindle; and when the door-wing is turned in either direction upon one of the pivot-cylinders, its edge moves outwardly from the peripheral seat, because the joint of the hinge is at one edge of such seat.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show a three-winged struc ture, and the three seats (2 formed on hingehanger-castings provided each with two loops k to embrace the spindle, as shown in Fig. 5. Such loops. permit the wings to be set radially as shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the hanger-castings being locked with'the seats d equi-distant from one another by hooks h, when the wings are thus arranged. Dotted lines 0 in Fig. 5 show two of the wings set opposite one another at right angles to the third wing, the loops h of the hinge-hangers permitting them to bethus arranged, and locked in such position by suitable hooks, with two wings transverse to the door-casing. The spindle being held from turning by any suitable means, the double-acting hinges then permit the two transverse wings to swing in the casing the same as in an ordinary doorway, when pushed in either direction.

Two of the four wings shown in Fig. 2 may obviously be set transversely in the casing a and used in a similar manner by holding the spindle from turning and leaving the wings free to swing upon their double-acting spring-hinges.

Ties, or so-called cables 2' neeting the wings in Fig. 2, the ends of the ties being attached to the door-wings and an open link j being inserted in the middle of each tie, the link being made of soft metal and of such proportions as to readily bend free from the ties and ,thus disengage the wings, when any unusual pressure is exerted upon opposite wings. Such ties may be used with wings and flat leaved doubleacting hinges which have no springs applied to 'hold the wings in their radial position, and the resistance of such springs when collapsing the door may thus be avoided,-the links 3' being made of suitable strength to sustain the pressure upon the wings when operated normally; but of insufficient strength to resist any abnormal pressure upon two opposite wings which tends to collapse the door. The rupture or yielding of one of the links 7' under such abnormal pressure then sets all of the wings free so that they can turn readily on their doubleacting hinges, and operate with the disk 7.: to reach a position all at one side of the spindle, as shown in Fig. 4. As the links are made 0 soft metal, they may be readily bent back to their normal shape after they have yielded under abnormal strain, and then reemployed to connect the parted ends of the cables or ties i. 'As the links are made with open ends, it is obvious that they may be hooked into the adjacent ends of the ties or cables to connect the same, and thus enable anyone without special tools or skill to restorethe tiesor cables to their operative condition after they have been ruptured by abnormal pressure, the rupturedlinks being rebent to their initial shape, ornew links employed, which involves merely a nominal expense. Instead of using such ties, springs may be used in the hinge-cylinders of suitable proportions to hold the wings radial in the casing when usedin the ordinary manner, but permitting the hinges to turn and the wings to collapse when 0pposite wings are violently pressed. It is obviously immaterial whether such springs be formed in or connected with the hinges, or

are shown con hinges, as in either case the springs may be arranged to permit the wings to collapse in the desired manner.-

The operation of the wings in collapsing so as to lie all at one sideof the spindle, as shown in 4, is as follows with a four-winged door, index numbers being applied to the reference letter 0 upon the several wings to distinguish theln apart. Pressure upon opposite wings c in the same direction turns them upon one or the other of the pivot-cylinders and folds them at opposite sides of the intermediate wings a,

as is shown in Fig. 3. To bring these side wings as close as possible to the intermediate wings, the hinge-cylinders of the side wings are set directly over or under the cylinders of the intermediate wing, which is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the eight cylinders of the four wings being thus represented by only four circles at the corners of the wooden body d. Pressure upon the fourth wing 0 in the same direction could not bring it parallel with the wings except the spindle or the body cl which carries the hinge-seats be turned during the movement of the wing 0 This is effected by the disk is fixed upon the spindle near each end, and a casting Z upon each wing having a notch to embrace the disk, and

shoulders Z to contact with its edge when the wing has been turned 135 degrees from its normal position, as indicated in Fig. 3. Pressure upon the wing 0 when theshoulder is in contact with the disk, operates to turn the disk and the spindle and to throw the wings first collapsed a little from their first collapsed position, as shown in Fi 4; where the pressure u n the wing 0 as turned the spindle an the body (1 45 degrees, thus bringing all the wings at one side of the spindle. Thus, in case of panic, when a crowd rushes through a door-casing at both sides of the spindle, the wings are automatically thrown all to one side of the spindle and are held there by the movement of the passengers so long as the pressure upon the wings continues.

When it is desired, the wings may be intentionally collapsed, as shown in Fig. 4, and secured together at their outer edges so as to form an open passage through the casing.

Where only three wings are mounted upon a spindle, as shown in Fig. 5, they do not need to turn the spindle in collapsing, and do not therefore require to cooperate with any disk to bring them parallel with one another, as any two of the wings may be turned upon the hinge-pivot nearest to the third wing so as to bring the two wings parallel to such wing.

The hanger-castings d which are shown in Fig. 5, are held at equal distances from ing with the spindle, but Fig. 5 shows an arrangement of two of the wings to be used as swing-doors instead of a revolving-door, the wings being set opposite one another by turning the hanger-castings (E into diametrically opposite positions upon the spindle b and transverse to the casing a. When the hangers are thus set, either of such opposed wings may be pushed in either direction and turned freely upon the double-acting springhinges, if mounted as is common in an ordinary doorway, thus permitting passage through the casing in either direction: Hooks 7c of different lengths are used to hold the han er-castings with the different hinges in' different relations to the spindle, when the wings are used as a revolving door or any one. of them as a swing-door.

To fold the wings in close proximity when collapsed, the pivot-cylinders upon the adjacent wings are placed at different levels, or one above the other upon their seats (Z, as stated above, which arrangement permits the hinges to turn without interference from one another, but brings the side of the wings at times into such close relation to the hinge-cylinders that the side of the wing requires a recess m in such wing to admit or clear such cylinder. This is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4: the castings I being shown with the recess m in both cases, although formed by a different construction of the casting. f

In practice, a slot m is formed in the door-wing adjacent to the hinge-leaf 8 and the casting is made with a socket-frame n which fits into such slot and forms the re cess m.

It wilLbe observed in Fig. 1 that the spindle is provided near each of its opposite ends with one of the disks la, and the hinges for the alternate doors are arranged upon the wings respectively above and below such disks.

The castings l notched to embrace the edges of the disk are therefore constructed so that the notch is formed near the lower end of the casting upon two opposite wings, as shown in Fig. 1, and near the upper end of the castings upon the intermediate wings, as shown in Fig. 8, the castings serving to form the shoulders I which contact with the edge of the disk to turn the same in col lapsing.

I am aware that revolving doors have been formed with collapsible wings and such wings hinged to the door-spindle so as 'to swing in either direction; but the use of three-leaf double-acting hinges enables me to hold the door-wings radial'by means of the springs in the pivot-cylinders, and also to use any of the wings as a swing-door by adjusting it normally transverse to the passage through the casing and securing the remaining door-wings immovably in the casing. I I

No hinges heretofore used for jointing a door-wing upon the spindle of a revolving door, possessed a spring in the hinge which performed the double function of holding the door-wing normally radial, and also of bringing it automatically back to such radial positionawhen pushed in either direction, as is required in a swing-door.

The three-leaf hinges which I employ are distinguished from any heretofore used upon the spindle of a revolving door by having pivot-cylinders at opposite edges 'of 4 a peripheral seat, upon one of which cylinders the door-wing turns when pushed in one direction, and turns upon the other of the wing is moved outwardly from the seat when the wing is turned uponv its hinges.

2. In a. revolving door, the combination,

with a suitable casing, of a center spindle, a

series of door-wings adapted to project from the spindle upon radial lines, 'a series of peripheral seats upon the spindle corresponding to the wings and transverse to such radial lines, flat three-leaf double-acting hinges connecting eaclr wing with the edge of one of said seats, whereby the inner edge of the wing is moved outwardly from the seat when turned upon its hinges, and springs bearing upon the wings and seats,

the said seats and springs operating jointly to hold the wings normally radial to the spindle, while permitting movement of the wing in either direction.

'3. In a revolving door, the combination, with a suitable casing, of a center spindle, a series of door-wings adapted to project from the spindle upon radial lines, a series of peripheral seats upon the spindle corresponding to'the wings'and transverse to such radial .lines, flat three-leaf double acting hinges connecting each wing-with the edge of one of said seats, whereby the inner edge of the wing is moved outwardly. from the seat when turned uponits hinges, springs bearing upon the mugs and seats, the said seats and springs operating jointly to hold the wings normally radial to the spindle, and means for securing a part of the doorwings immovably within the casing, with groove connection to door-wings,

the remainder of the wings transver to and freely movable in the passage throu 'h the casing, to act as a swing-door.

4:. In arevolving door, the combination, with a suitable casing, of a center spindle, a series of door-wings adapted to project from the spindle upon radial lines, a series of peripheral seats upon the: spindle corresponding to the wings and transverse to such radial lines, flat three-leaf double-acting hinges connecting each wing with one edge of a seat, pivot-cylinders connecting the leaves together with springs in thecylinders operating to press the leaves normally together and thereby hold the wings normally radial. to the spindle, and means for securing a part of the wings immovably in the casing with one wingrtransverse to the passage through the casing and freely movable'therein toact as a swing-door.

5. In a revolving door, the combination, with a suitable casing, of a center spindle, a

series of door-wings, a series of peripheral seats upon the spindlecorrespondlng to the door-wings, and fiat three-leaf double-acting hinges connecting each wing with one edge of a seat, the hinges being arranged at different levels inrelation tothe wings and door-spindle to permit the leavesof the several hinges to tum without interference from one another. l I

o 6. In a revolving door, the combination,

with a suitable casing, of a center spindle and a series ofjdoor-wings, a senes of peripheral seats upon the spindle correspond ing to the wings, the seats and the contiguous edges of the wings having a tongue and form a lightproof joint, and-flat three-leaf double-acting hinges connecting each of the door-wings with one edge of a seat, whereby the tongues and grooves are separated radially when the wings are turned upon their hinges,

7. In a revolving door, the combination, with a suitable casing, of 'a centenspindle and a series of door-wings, a series of peripheral seats upon the spindle corresponding to the wings, fiat three-leaf double-acting hinges connecting the inner edges of the wings with such seats, springs bearing upon the wings and seats, the seatsandsprings operating jointly upon the wlngs to hold them normally radial to the spindle, and the seatsand wings being provided upon their contiguous faces with a tongue and groove connection forming a light-proof joint when the wingsare radially extended.

8. In a revolving door, the combination, with a suitable casing, ofa center spindle having plain flat disks-thereon near its opposite ends, a series of door-wings, a series of peripheral seats upon the spindle adjacent to the disks and corresponding to the castings upon the inner edges of the door-wings notched to engage the adja cent disk, and flat three-leaf double-acting hinges connecting each of said door-wings with the spindle, the hinges upon the adjacent wings being, respectively, above and below the disk, to permit the leaves of the adjacent hinges to turn without interference from one another.

J. In a revoh-ing door, the combination, witha suitable casing, of a center spindle, a series of door-wings adapted to project from the spindle upon radial lines. a series, of peripheral seats upon the spindle corresponding to the wings and transverse to such radial lines, flat three-leaf double-acting hinges connecting each wing with one edge of a seat, pivot-cylinders connecting the leaves together with springs in the cylinders oper: ating to press the leaves normallytogether and thereby hold the wings normally radial to the spindle, and the sides of such Wings adjacent to their inner edges recessed to clear the hinge cylinders of the adjacent Wings.

10. In a revolving door, the combination, with a suitable casing, of a center spindle, a series of door-wings, a series of hanger-castings attached to the spindle carrying near their opposite ends flat three-leaf double-acting hinges, the outer leaves of such hinges being attached to the inner edges of the door-Wings, and detachable means for holding the hanger-castings With their hinges in different relations to the spindle, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

GEORGE A. K. SUTTON.

Witnesses:

II. R. HALsEY,

THos. F. DWY'ER. 

